A Happy 2016 Birthday to Cool Jazz Cat Paul Desmond

by Robert Wilkinson

Today would have been the 92nd birthday of Mister Cool Jazz Sax, Paul Desmond.

Paul Desmond (November 25, 1924 – May 30, 1977) was a jazz saxophonist and composer, and according to wiki, “He was one of the most popular musicians to come out of the West Coast “cool jazz” scene, and the possessor of a legendary and idiosyncratic wit.”

More from Wikipedia: “Following the conclusion of World War II, Desmond started working ... with Brubeck at the Geary Cellar in San Francisco. Desmond soon hired Brubeck, but cut his pay in half and then replaced him altogether after taking him along to Graegle at The Feather River Inn for gigs; this was done so Desmond could gamble in nearby Reno. In 1950 Desmond left for New York City playing alto and clarinet for Jack Fina, but returned to California after hearing Brubeck's trio on the radio.”

The story of their encounter is somewhat humorous. Brubeck — married with three children and holding a grudge from his earlier experience with Desmond — instructed his wife Iola not to let him set foot in his house. But Desmond came to his home in San Francisco one day while Dave was out back hanging diapers on a laundry line, and Iola let him in and took him to Brubeck. Apparently all the begging in the world would not convince Brubeck to hire him, at least not until Desmond offered to babysit Brubeck's children.”

“... After convincing Brubeck to hire him following his stint with Jack Fina, the two had a contract drafted (of which Brubeck was the sole signatory); the language forbade Brubeck from ever firing him, ensured Brubeck's status as group leader, and gave Desmond twenty percent of all profits generated from the quartet. That is how the Dave Brubeck Quartet had its start, a group that began in 1951 and ended in December 1967.”

He also worked with Gerry Mulligan and Chet Baker, and died young at 52 of lung cancer. That’s what cigarettes will do to you. I turned on to the Dave Brubeck Quartet in the early 60s, and was totally hooked! At this point, I’ll just let his music speak for itself. Enjoy the Master at his craft!

Also from 1959, the Quartet live on television in an excellent performance of “Take Five”

In a strangely psychedelic video in 1962 from “The Lively Ones" showing the quartet superimposed flying above an LA freeway, here’s they are performing the pioneering 9/8 time signature shifts of “Blue Rondo A la Turk”

Here’s another treat! I don’t know when this video was recorded, but Chet Baker is VERY young! Here’s Chet Baker (trumpet), Paul Desmond (alto sax), bob James (Keyboards), Ron Carter (contrabass), and Steve Gadd (drums) delivering a very cool version of “Autumn Leaves”

For the encore, I found all the tracks from the 1963 album “The Dave Brubeck Quartet at Carnegie Hall.” This concert has been called the best performance of the band’s career, so enjoy! And yes, they’re in order of the set list.

An incredibly up tempo version of this song which closed the set, "Take Five"

RIP Paul, and thanks for giving our world a more beautiful selection of sounds than existed before you. You made our world a better place for living your life and sharing your tremendous talent. Aum and blessings, sax Master.